Region Updates - Four Corners Wind Resource Centerhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/regional_updates
2016 Wind Technologies Market Report<p>The 2016 Wind Technologies Market Report, released this year, provides an annual overview of trends in the U.S. wind power market.</p>Wed, 29 Nov 2017 11:37:00 -0700Fletcher Wilkinsonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/2016_wind_technologies_market_report
Case Study: Coalition of Renewable Energy Landowner Associations<p>Four Corners Wind Resource Center has published a short case study on the Coalition of Renewable Energy Landowner Associations that examines how they are organized and some of their successes.</p>Thu, 16 Nov 2017 09:36:00 -0700Fletcher Wilkinsonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/case_study_coalition_of_renewable_energy_landowner_associations
Mountain West announces next step to potential Southwest Power Pool membership<h4>Initial discussions with SPP reach completion; Mountain West to proceed to negotiations for SPP regional transmission organization membership</h4>Wed, 15 Nov 2017 11:26:37 -0700Fletcher Wilkinsonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/next_step_to_potential_southwest_power_pool_membership
Evolution of Wind Resource <p><img src="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/utahcleanenergy/pages/322/attachments/original/1488825832/Evolution_of_Wind_Power_image.JPG?1488825832" alt="Evolution_of_Wind_Power_image.JPG" /></p>
<p>GreenByte recently released their <a title='"Evolution of Wind"' href="http://www.greenbyte.com/resources/evolution-of-wind-power/" target="_self">“Evolution of Wind”</a> infographic that illustrates the changes in global wind capacity from 1981 t0 2016. According to the time-lapse visualization, global wind power capacity has risen 11%, from 432.4 GW in 2015 to 486.7 GW in 2016. United States wind capacity increased 10% from 73,991 MW in 2015 to 82,184 MW in 2016. </p>
<p><a title="http://www.greenbyte.com/resources/evolution-of-wind-power/" href="http://www.greenbyte.com/resources/evolution-of-wind-power/"> </a></p>Thu, 23 Feb 2017 15:13:00 -0700Emma Rieveshttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/evolution_of_wind_resource
The Blue Winds of Southeastern Utah<p>The winds of the Blue (Abajo) Mountains have their ups and downs, but actually are almost always blowing. The town of Monticello, located off the northeast flanks has a telling road sign: “Cool Winds, Warm Welcome.”</p>
<p>These winds create the perfect place for a wind farm. In March 2016, the Latigo Wind Park became fully operational, sending 60 MW of power into the Rocky Mountain Power grid, enough to power 10,000-20,000 homes per year.</p>Thu, 26 Jan 2017 11:35:00 -0700Emma Rieveshttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/the_blue_winds_of_sou
Report Shows New Transmission Can Help Wind Energy Supply a Third of U.S. Electricity<p><span>The U.S. Energy Department released a new report on Jan 9th, 2017 which confirms that adding even limited electricity transmission can significantly reduce the costs of expanding wind energy to supply 35% of U.S. electricity by 2050. The report, titled </span><a href="http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy17osti/67240.pdf"><em>Reducing Wind Curtailment through Transmission Expansion in a Wind Vision Future</em></a><span> and authored by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), affirms the findings of the Energy Department’s 2015 </span><a href="https://energy.gov/eere/wind/maps/wind-vision"><em>Wind Vision</em></a><em>, </em><span>which showed that a future in which wind provides 20% of U.S. electricity in 2030 and 35% in 2050 is achievable and would provide significant economic, energy security, and health benefits to the nation.</span></p>Wed, 11 Jan 2017 14:18:00 -0700Mitalee Guptahttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/report_shows_new_transmission_can_help_wind_energy_supply_a_third_of_u_s_electricity
Black Hills' $100M Wind Farm In South Colorado Starts Operating<p>A massive wind farm in southern Colorado began operations on Monday. The addition will help Colorado’s second-largest utility, Black Hills Energy, satisfy statewide renewable energy standards.</p>Wed, 09 Nov 2016 15:14:00 -0700Emma Rieveshttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/black_hills_100m_wind_farm_in_south_colorado_starts_operating
Arizona's top utility regulator: State should double renewable energy requirements<p>Arizona Corporation Commission Chairman Doug Little announced a proposal to double the state's Renewable Energy Standard to 30% by 2030, a significant increase from the existing 15% by 2025 requirement.</p>Thu, 01 Sep 2016 12:25:31 -0600Fletcher Wilkinsonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/arizona_should_double_rps_requirements
Public Service Commission of Wyoming denies Rocky Mountain Power request to reduce QF PPA contract term from 20 to 3 years<p>In 2015 Rocky Mountain Power filed an application with the Wyoming Public Service Commission to reduce the contract term for PURPA power purchase agreements with qualifying facilities from 20 to 3 years.</p>Fri, 22 Jul 2016 14:43:00 -0600Meghan Duttonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/wy_psc_denies_rmp_request
CAISO report finds that EIM total benefits for 2016 Q1 of $18.90 million are consistent with pre-launch projections<p>CAISO's "Benefits for Participating in EIM, 2016 Q1 Report", published April 30, 2016, finds that each participating balancing authority area (ISO, NV Energy, and PacifiCorp) experienced estimated gross benefits for the quarter totaling $18.90 million. These benefits are consistent with pre-launch projections.</p>Thu, 21 Jul 2016 07:49:00 -0600Meghan Duttonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/caiso_report_2016_q1
Xcel Energy submits plan to build $1 billion wind farm in Colorado<p>On Friday, Xcel Energy Inc. filed their $1 billion Rush Creek Wind Project plans with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Under the plan, Xcel would build, own, and operate the 600MW wind farm and 90-mile 345kv transmission line.</p>Wed, 18 May 2016 13:12:16 -0600Fletcher Wilkinsonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/xcel_energy_1_billion_wind_farm_colorado
New Mexico joins the wind-energy gigawatt club<p>"New Mexico became the seventeenth state in the U.S. in December to surpass the 1,000-megawatt mark for installed wind energy capacity, following the startup of a 250-megawatt wind farm in Roosevelt County."</p>Tue, 17 May 2016 11:10:21 -0600Fletcher Wilkinsonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/new_mexico_joins_the_wind_energy_gigawatt_club
USFWS Director clarifies that proposed rule does not permit killing thousands of eagles<p>Last week, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe penned an op-ed in The Huffington Post to address false reports that the agency’s proposed rule changes would allow energy companies to legally kill thousands of bald eagles. “The notion that we intend to permit the killing of more than 4,000 bald eagles is wrong. Period.”</p>Wed, 11 May 2016 14:03:03 -0600Fletcher Wilkinsonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/usfws_director_clarifies_proposed_rule
Recent 4CWRC webinar features many useful transmission maps<p>Are you interested in transmission system development in the West? Then check out the maps provided by Charlie Reinhold of WestConnect and included in our recent webinar, "<a href="http://www.fourcornerswind.org/understanding_transmission_planning" target="_blank">Connecting Renewable Energy Resources to Markets: Understanding Transmission Planning</a>."</p>Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:28:00 -0600Meghan Duttonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/recent_4cwrc_webinar
sPower Latigo Wind Park Commissioned, Generating Clean Energy<p>sPower, a leading renewable energy provider headquartered in Salt Lake City, announced in March that its first wind project, the Latigo Wind Park, is now fully operational and has closed on its long-term financing plan. Located in San Juan County in Southeastern Utah, major construction of the 60 megawatt wind farm was completed in December 2015.</p>Tue, 12 Apr 2016 15:13:53 -0600Meghan Duttonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/spower_latigo_wind_park
DOE WINDExchange Publishes State of the Regions Report<p>This March, DOE's WINDExchange released the <em>U.S. Department of Energy Regional Resource Centers Report: State of the Wind Industry in the Regions</em>, which summarizes the status of, and drivers for, U.S. wind energy development on the regional and state levels.</p>Tue, 29 Mar 2016 15:19:31 -0600Fletcher Wilkinsonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/state_of_the_regions_report
4CWRC Webinar: "Understanding Transmission Planning"<p>The <a href="http://www.fourcornerswind.org/" target="_blank">Four Corners Wind Resource Center</a> invites you to join us on <strong>April 6 from 10:00 to 11:15 am</strong> mountain time for our upcoming webinar, <strong>"<em>Connecting Renewable Energy Resources to Markets: Understanding Transmission Planning</em><em>."</em></strong></p>Wed, 16 Mar 2016 10:30:00 -0600Meghan Duttonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/4cwrc_webinar_understanding_transmission_planning
Over $128 billion invested in US wind development over the last decade<p>Last year in the US, wind energy was the largest source of new electric capacity additions. 2015 saw $14.7 billion dollars of investment in wind projects – roughly the same amount as Iceland’s total 2015 GDP.</p>Mon, 29 Feb 2016 15:54:00 -0700Fletcher Wilkinsonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/128_billion_invested_in_us_wind
Renewable energy is set to keep growing - with or without the Clean Power Plan<p>What will happen to renewable energy growth with the CPP stalled by the Supreme Court? Thanks to tax extenders, The Rhodium Group projects renewables to be the dominant form of new energy development over the next decade – with or without the CPP.</p>Mon, 29 Feb 2016 15:53:08 -0700Fletcher Wilkinsonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/renewable_energy_with_or_without_the_clean_power_plan
US wind industry sees big growth in 2015, set for another big year in 2016<p>According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), national wind power installations grew significantly between 2014 and 2015, with 5,001 MW of wind power installed in the fourth quarter of 2015 alone. Growth is set to continue this year with 9,400 MW already under construction at the start of 2016.</p>Fri, 05 Feb 2016 12:20:22 -0700Fletcher Wilkinsonhttp://www.fourcornerswind.org/big_year_for_us_wind